Life Span Approach to Health: A Case Study of Mr. Herbert

This assignment explores the health concerns and factors affecting the health decision making and behaviors of Mr. Herbert, a 65-year-old man in his chronic age of late adulthood. It discusses the impact of complex social environment, social influences, culture, and inequality on his health. Relevant interventions that can benefit Mr. Herbert are also proposed.

Introduction
Life span approach to health is an important approach to assess patient and understand
the factors behind health issues based on review of health development from preconception to
old age. The significance of this approach is that it helped to identify other relevant factors
that it can to understand the factors predicting health development and disease over a lifespan.
This assignment will look at a scenario involving Mr Herbert, a 65 year old man, who is in his
chronic age of late adulthood. Firstly the assignment will introduce the client and explore the
health concerns, lifespan and model of health that can be applied to the client. Following this,
the assignment will focus on the factors that affect Herbert in his health decision making and
behaviours, and the impact of complex social environment, social influences, culture and
inequality on his health. Additional focus will be on psycho-physiological aspects of health
including the relationship between health and emotion, stress and stress management, and the
type of response that are evident in relation to the client. Finally the assignment will propose
relevant interventions that benefit the client.
Introduction to the client
Herbert is an aging man, who is 65 years of age. He is married and lives with his wife
in the coastal town. He has health issues of chronic hypertension and obesity. At his part-
time, he works as a gardener in his local retirement village and he has personal and financial
struggles. Herbert has reached his chronic age of late adulthood. Late adulthood is generally
considered to begin at about the age of 65 (Cramer, 2017, p.540).
According to the case study, Herbert is not a healthy man. It can be identified that
Herbert has both disease and illness symptoms. Disease is generally defined as an abnormal
state of the body that is diagnosed by a medical physician or qualified observer (Akhade &
Lakhe, 2016, p. 762). While illness means a health condition that an individual can identify

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himself or herself. Illness can be based on mental or physical symptoms (Mouratidi, Bonoti,
and Leondari, 2016, p. 432). It can be determined that Herbert has chronic hypertension
disease and he is overweight meaning when diagnosed he can be having obesity disease.
Moreover, he has mental and physical symptoms, which can be defined as an illness. In
recent time, he is also experiencing problems with vision and most of the time, he finds hard
to perform manual task. He is also experiencing stress illness because of many illness,
financial problem and difficulties in his marriage (Heinze et al. 2015, p.270).
Bio-psychosocial model of health can be applied in the case of Herbert. The bio-
psychosocial model of health is a framework that states that interaction between
psychological, social, and psychological factors determine the cause, manifestation, and
outcome of wellness (Cowley and Collins, 2016, p.371). This can be reflected in the case
study of Herbert, where he experiences all the symptoms recorded in the bio-psychosocial
model of health. Herbert health state is the outcome of the number of reasons. Example,
Herbert has poor lifestyle behaviour such as alcohol consumption, poor diet, and inactivity
(psychological) and he also has physical symptoms hypertension, low immunity system,
obesity and vision problem (physical), which cause difficulties in his marriage and social life
(social) (Babalola, Noel, & White, 2017, p. 293). He also experiences stress and anxiety
because of his financial status, health issues, and difficulties in his marriage (psychological)
(Babalola, Noel, & White, 2017, p. 293).
Factor affecting health decision and behaviour
Complex social environment are the risk factors that are present in a person’s
surroundings that can be detrimental for the health of the individual or society (Roehrle &
Strouse, 2019, p.1). In the case study, Herbert has two social environments or domains of
influence; these are home and the local hotel. In this case, Herbert, most of the time, spends

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playing pokies at the local hotel, and as a consequence, he is vulnerable to many financial
issues. At home, he becomes stress because of his wife as she keeps threatening him to leave
him. In this context, the concept of Locus of control can be discussed which is a degree of
personality psychology in which people believe they have control over every situation that
affects their lives and also blame outside forces for any adverse outcomes (Cobb-Clark,
Kassenboehmer & Sinning, 2016, p. 1). Herbert complaints about everything, and he is
making his own decision, which reflects his internal locus of control attitude.
Also, there are some social influences associated with his health and behaviour. Social
influence refers to how all the external factors alter their behaviour (Taylor & Eckles, 2018,
p. 2). Unhealthy lifestyle, low self-esteem, exclusion, isolation, and on-going stress are the
four social influences in Herbert life that is affecting his health. In this case, Herbert’s poor
financial condition and absence of social contact lead him to social isolation. His low esteem
is characterized by feeling bad about him and a lack of confidence. In Herbert’s life, factors
like alcohol use, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating contribute to unhealthy
lifestyle. On-going stress is due to his relationship problem with his wife, financial status,
weight problem, and current medical problem. In turns, all these mechanisms lead him to
obesity, altered blood pressure response, decreased immunity and anxiety, that place Herbert
at risk for adverse health and functioning outcomes (Lee & Hanna, 2015 p.139).
Inequality refers to the quality of not being equal like others, which depict the
differences (Gimpelson & Treisman, 2018, p.2). In Herbert case, he faces many health issues,
strength problem, and financial condition unlike other people of his society. In turn, all these
inequality factors are harmful because it puts him in a hierarchy, which reduces social
cohesion; increase competition for status, insecurity, and stress, leading him to poor health
and other negative outcomes. Culture is a social behaviour found in human societies that
reflects ideas, customs of a particular people or society (Storey, 2018, p.1). Poor lifestyle

HERBERT CASE STUDY 4
behaviour is the cultural influence in Herbert’s life that negatively affects his health. Eating
junk food and drinking alcohol can be seen as a status in some societies (Inglehart, 2018,
p.34). On the case, it can be reflected in the behaviour culture of Herbert, where he changes
his lifestyle of eating junk food and drinking wine. Consequently, all these mechanisms lead
him to obesity, altered blood pressure response and decreased immunity that place Herbert at
risk for adverse health and functioning outcomes (Lee & Hanna, 2015 p. 138).
Psycho-physiological aspects of health
Psychosomatic can be defined as the physical body, which is caused or made worse by
mental factors (Fava, Cosci and Sanino, 2017 p.15). The body symptoms involve both the
mind and the body of the individual. This means the mental health of the individual, such as
anxiety or stress, can affect the physical state of the individual. This can be linked in the case
where Herbert experiences fatigue or challenges in performing the manual task. The
psychosomatic symptoms of uniqueness or tiredness might be caused by psychological
factors like his on-going stress, worry, and emotional upset (Fava, Cosci and Sanino, 2017
p.22).
Stress is a state of emotional or mental strain resulting from demanding and adverse
circumstances (Seaward, 2017, p. 25). There are two types of stressors in Herbert life namely
eustress, which refers to positive stress and distress, which is the term for negative stress. In
the case study, he is experiencing eustress, where he seeks counselling from his friend. He is
experiencing distress due to his health, financial problem, and marriage difficulties. Task
focus approach and emotion focus approach strategies can be identified in Herbert case about
his stress. Task focus approach can be defined as the situation where an individual invests in
his consciousness to solve his problems and minimize stress (Gilbert, 2015 p. 232). An
example from the case study can be reflected where Herbert seeks medical help from the

HERBERT CASE STUDY 5
registered nurse and is seeking counselling about his marriage problem, stress, and anxiety.
Emotion focus approach can be defined as the short-term treatment of distress. It involves
trying to reduce negative emotional responses associated with stress (Gilbert, 2015 p. 233). In
Herbert case, spending much of his time in the local hotel with pokies and drinking alcohol
can be considered as an emotion focus approach as it focuses on the arousal caused by stress,
not the problem.
Stress is also defined as the situation where the body reacts to any change that needs a
response. These changes can be physical, cognitive, behavioural and psychological responses
(Seaward, 2017, p. 25). The physiological response is defined as a reaction, which is
automatic, and it causes a physical reaction to a stimulus. (Atkinson and Batterham, 2015 p.
578). Examples of physical responses to his stress are weight gain, low energy, and weakness
and hypertension disease. The psychological response refers to psychological or emotional
reactions experienced in which the demands or pressure go beyond their coping resources
(Bauld and Brown. 2009, p.163). Examples of psychology response are his anger, lack of
motivation, loneliness, isolation, unhappiness, and expecting the worse. Cognitive responses
are self-care strategy based on individual judgment or evaluation of how they perceive
stressor (Lucia-Palacios, Pérez-López, and Polo-Redondo, 2016 p. 10). Examples are his poor
judgment about his health, and being worried about his health, financial struggles, and
marriage problem. The behavioural response can be defined as the results, which evoke after
physiological changes, which arise due to continuous stress in the life of the individual
(Seaward, 2017, p. 27). Examples of behavioural response are unhealthy diet consumption,
drinking alcohol and withdrawing from others.
Health Promotion and Prevention of illness
Illness prevention is an action taken by health professionals or institute to prevent the

HERBERT CASE STUDY 6
occurrence of illness (Jones & Creedy, 2012, p. 287). On the other hand, health promotion is
the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinant, and
thereby improve, their health (WHO, 2019). Illness prevention is different from health
promotion because illness prevention can be characterized as the service which concentrate
on healthcare sector as compare to health promotion services that are dependent on inter-
sectoral actions concerned with social health determinants (WHO, 2019). Intervention is a
combination of program strategies or elements designed to improve health status or produce
healthy behaviour among individuals. Interventions that can be use in Herbert’s situation are
Maslow hierarchy needs, psychosocial intervention, stress management techniques and
primary, secondary and tertiary intervention,
According to the case study, Herbert’s physical inactivity, intake of red wine, poor dietary
habit and overweight is associated with his adverse health outcomes. Herbert could benefit
from program designed to discourage the uptake of alcohol, increasing opportunities for
physical activity, and healthy eating, and providing self management program for him to deal
with his hypertension disease. Such interventions programs categorise in three levels are
primary, secondary and tertiary intervention (Psaltopoulou, Ilias, & Alevizaki, 2010, p. 32).
Stress management is another intervention, which refers to an array of techniques whose aim
is to control the stress levels in particular chronic stress with the goal of improvement in
everyday functioning (Creaser, 2017, p. 580). Stress management can promote health and
prevent illness. Example of stress management intervention includes programs designed to
encourage exercise, progressive relaxation, biofeedback, meditation, and mindfulness-based
stress reduction.
Maslow hierarchy of needs is a psychology theory that was proposed by Abraham Maslow to
describe the needs that motivate human behaviour (Nyden, Petersson, & Nystrom, 2003,
p.271). The five basic needs on Maslow include physiological needs, safety needs, love and

HERBERT CASE STUDY 7
belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow’s theoru can be used in Herbert’s
situation to understand what he wants in life in terms of satisfaction. Moreover, satisfying
these needs will promote his health and avoid unpleasant feeling or consequences.
Psychosocial intervention is defined as intervention, which emphasizes social,
psychological, health promotional and educational strategies to address the determinants of
health (emotional and social) rather than disease or illness (Forsman, Nordmyr, & Wahlbeck,
2011, p. 88). Psychosocial intervention has a positive effect on quality of life and promotes
health. Example of psychosocial intervention is empowering Herbert with health education to
help him to make positive decision about his health, and opportunity to participate in healthy
behaviour. Herbert could also benefit from this intervention designed to provide support to
reconnect with the social world and to reduce distress and the impact of isolation and social
exclusion. Other psychosocial intervention includes care coordination, case management, and
counselling and motivational enhancement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Herbert is an elderly man, who is in his chronic age of his late
adulthood. He has hypertension disease and illness of vision problem, weakness and stress.
His condition can be interpreted by biopsychosocial model of health. There are several factors
that influence decision making in Herbert life. This includes poor lifestyle, social exclusion,
self esteem, health issues, marriage difficulties, and individual differences including age and
socioeconomic status. Stress is very common in Herbert life, and is caused by many factors.
These factors include financial status, marriage difficulties, health issues, and his lifestyle.
Task focus coping and emotion focus coping are the strategies that Herbert used in managing
his stress. Responses that are identified in the case study are physical, social, cognitive and
behavioural. Models and theories that can be used in illness prevention and health promotion

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include stress management, Maslow hierarchy of needs, psychosocial intervention, primary,
secondary and tertiary prevention.
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